Pictures with the bird

The bishop has a bird that the kids think is really cool. Here are some pictures.

Chris and Brennan went home teaching this afternoon and the other kids stayed home with me to drive each other absolutely crazy!

Tonight, Chris has another meeting but Grandma and Uncle Ricky are coming over to eat dinner with us. We're looking forward to that.

Clean and ride

We woke up this morning and went over to the meetinghouse to do our part and clean. We are assigned here about every 3 months and today it was our turn again. After cleaning, we went home and then decided to go to Animal Kingdom for a quick visit. We rode Mount Everest and the safari ride, toured some crazy insects and animals and then worked our way back to the car.

Aislinn refused to get in the above picture initially and then she refused to smile, so that is her 'stern' face, she told Chris.

Chris and I waiting to ride Mount Everest
The kids posing after touring insects, etc.

We stopped at the Saunders' house on the way home for a Halloween party. The kids had a great time and Chris and I had fun visiting with our friends.

Employee celebrations

This afternoon we celebrated Brenda's birthday at work. She has worked with Chris for 6 years and we're glad to have her. She seemed to enjoy her day.

Twinkle Toes

This is what a VERY HAPPY 5 year old looks like with the coolest shoes ever. (According to her)

I was sad that I couldn't get the camera to do these fancy shoes justice. They have lights on the toes with silver stud things. Crazy, if you ask me, but totally amazing if you ask Aislinn.

Yuck

I spent today in a funk and even got in the tub to relax for a little. Following my tub fun, I got in the bed for about an hour. I just didn't feel good. However, after that, I felt a little better, so I got back up and ran some errands.

The kids didn't have school today, it was a teacher planning day. So, I put the elementary school kids in EDEP and Kerstyn went over to Sister Smith's, her Activity Days leader, for some cake and pizza baking. Brennan stayed home and procrastinated his chores until the last possible minute!

I didn't even feel like going to the gym today. Wow! Something is up with me.

Children's Sacrament Meeting and a visit from Mom

Mom arrived over here around 9:15 and she and I headed to church about 9:30. All the kids and Chris arrived around 9:55. Janie and Grandma were already in their seats.

All of the kids did a great job giving their lines and singing their songs. All except Aislinn who decided not to say her line or sing. Oh well. The spirit was strong and I survived playing the piano.

Here are some pictures from this afternoon. We had a nice visit too.

Happy Sabbath!

Stake Adult Dance

After a full day of cycle, getting a pedicure, picking up kids and taking care of them, Janie arrived at 5 to let Chris and I go enjoy our evening.

We had a wonderful dinner at JJFins and then a good time at the Stake Adult Dance. Chris said that the only reason he was going was because he loves me. Now wasn't that nice of him?

Kerstyn was kind enough to snap a few pictures before we left. However, it was quite breezy and I was having a hard time keeping myself from sinking into the grass, but here they are.

Chris says that I LOVE an excuse to buy a new dress. I think he's right. ;)

Aislinn's Family Picnic

Aislinn know pretty much every student in Kindergarten at Round Lake Elementary! It was the cutest thing to see her talking and telling me who everyone is.

After she ate her 6 piece Might Kids Meal as quickly as she could, she took me over to the playground where she could demonstrate her mad monkey bar skills! Boy, she is great at that! So great in fact, that she has blisters on her hands because she does it so much!

We had a great Mommy/Daughter picnic.

It flew

This week has just flown by. I've worked and gone to the gym. I've helped with homework and cooked as little as possible. ;)

However, things are going forward so, I will too. It is quite a stressful time right now and I am trying to stay focused on the positive, which is things certainly could be worse! We are all healthy and we have jobs. I'm so very thankful for that.

I guess I'm just trying to keep my head above the water.

Can I just say?

It is much better to be just responsible for sitting and playing the piano than to be the Primary President the last rehearsal before the Children's Sacrament Meeting Presentation! I don't miss that stress at all! It is stressful enough just worrying and praying that I will hit the right notes...

Today is Kenney's birthday too. We sang her Happy Birthday this morning while all the kids were eating their cereal.

The choir sang prelude music and a special musical number today. I sure wish I could get some more singers...

After church, we had our tradition of grilled cheese. Then, Chris, Lauklan and I headed to Old Southern Bank in downtown Orlando to get the office furniture that we purchased in the auction. That was a WAY BIGGER job than we thought.

We finally got back to Mount Dora about dark and Chris and I unloaded all of the stuff that we could get off the truck. The fire-proof filing cabinet that we purchased was too much for me to handle and one portion of the desk we purchased so they will have to wait until tomorrow when Chris can get some help from another male. I tried though...

Dad and Kenney left around 7. I was glad that we got to spend time with them this past weekend. It had been too long.

Shop till you drop

Kenney, Alyssa, Kerstyn and I went to the Mall at Millenia today. We ate lunch at The Cheesecake Factory and then did some looking around at the mall. After that, we went to Nordstrom Rack where I did some serious damage to that store. Kerstyn got two outfits for church and some shoes. It is very difficult to buy age appropriate dress clothing for her since she is bigger than me and her foot is a size 10! Anyway, we were semi-successful.

After all that shopping, it was time to eat again and we ate at Moe's. Apparently it is one of Alyssa's favorite places to eat. I had never eaten there before, but it was quite tasty.

We arrived home after 8 and were just exhausted. Chris and Dad survived the day with all the other kids. I know they were glad to see us again though.

Family Picnic with Greyson and Lauklan

I ran off from the office a few minutes late and went through the McDonald's drive-thru as quickly as possible. I arrived at Round Lake a few minutes late, but Greyson was sitting with Mrs. Vallee patiently and he was pleasantly surprised to see me with a Mighty Kids Meal just for him.

About 30 minutes later, Greyson and I went down and met Lauklan and then sat on a blanket with Suzy and Trevor Bell while Lauklan enjoyed his Mighty Kids meal. Mrs. Bell was kind enough to snap this picture of the three of us.

Dad, Kenney and Alyssa arrived around 5 this afternoon and got the tour of the new office. We're looking forward to a nice weekend together. To start it off right, Dad, Kenney, Chris and I went to dinner at Cracker Barrel while Janie kept the kids. Nice!

Even warmer

I had a rough day yesterday. I started stressing and was just feeling like Eeyore. It wasn't pretty. I even started back up with the chest pains. But, today is a new day. And, we also received another beautiful floral arrangement for the office!

This beautiful arrangement was sent to us by Robert F. Vason's office. That is the office that Chris initially worked for. I thought it was so sweet of them and when I called to thank them, they expressed how happy they are for us.

To top it off, Chris called me on his way back to the office before lunch to see if I wanted to go to lunch with him. I couldn't say "yes" fast enough.

This day is DEFINITELY better than yesterday. Whew!

Office warming

Chris and I received this gorgeous plant arrangement this morning from the florist! I cried! Thank you very much Mom and Dad!This day is crazy, but we're here and it will be great. The office is beautiful and we feel so blessed.

Finished office and we're in!

Progress!

Medium sized conference room
Small conference room

Large conference room with pedastals for the granite conference room table that is being made. It should be gorgeous!
Waiting room

Another waiting room shot.

My office

The kitchen with 2 of our employees.

Client restroom

Chris in his office just working away.

Watch out world! ;)

The moving has begun!

We started having the office moved today. Mary was at the new office all day and I was back and forth. This is seriously stressful, but I know it will be worth it.

Keep tuned for pictures and updates.

Almost in!

We're moving in this weekend. It is so exciting and stressful at the same time!

I know this purchase is a blessing. I know it makes Chris happy, therefore I am happy.

Good things will come.

Aislinn lost a tooth!

My baby has lost a tooth! I guess my 'babies' are growing up. I have mixed feelings about that.

STRESS!

I made it to cycle class today. I had a crazy busy day. This was kinda how it went.

I overslept by 25 minutes. Not good since I don't give myself much room in my rushed morning schedule.

I got the elementary kids to school, went to the dry cleaners and picked up and dropped off.

I took the middle schoolers to school.

Went to work.

Ran to the banks to make deposits for the firm.

Stopped at Publix to buy over $200.00 of groceries, which is about normal.

Took those groceries home, put them away, worked on the laundry and rushed back to the office for a few minutes.

Picked up the elementary kids. Rushed doing some homework with the elementary kids and then stopped off at the gym to get my bike for cycle class.

Picked up the middle schoolers and took them home. Finished homework with the kids that had it and folded laundry.

Changed clothes for the gym, got all the kids loaded back up and headed to the gym. Called Janie to make sure that she could get Brennan to the church after taking Kerstyn to piano because I found out at the last minute that Brennan had a scout activity tonight.

Arrived at the gym to cycle. Cycled my heart out and developed some chest pains.

Continued with chest pains as I stopped at the office to go over the punch list.

Took the kids home, bathed the ones that needed help. Cooked dinner. Had family prayer and got the kids in bed.

Realized that I am seriously stressed out. I have never experienced chest pains before. Guess I'm not as young as I used to be.

I can make it. Right?

Coming back

Chris and I flew out of Salt Lake around 10 this morning. On the plane with us were about 6 more members of our Stake. That was pretty cool. We arrived in Orlando around 4:30 and Chris and I decided to go have dinner before we went back home.

Once we arrived home, a little before 8, we visited with the kids and learned about all the weekend happenings for them. Thanks to Grandma, they were all safe and sound.

Aislinn even lost a tooth this past weekend, her first. The boys constructed a fort and climbed some trees. All was well and we feel blessed.

Now for a crazy week of getting ready to move this office! I sure hope I survive!

General Conference, Day 2

Chris and I left Orem at 6 a.m. We arrived in the standby line a little before 7 and were standing in the standby line until about 9:35. We were thinking that we would be able to get into conference in the standby line. However, about 9:35, they ushered us to the Theater and we watched conference from there. So, we were at the conference center, but not "in" the conference center.

This afternoon, we sat in the Terrace level, which is where I took this picture from. The seats were pretty good, not as good as the seats we had yesterday morning, but it was in the conference center, so we certainly weren't going to complain.

After the last session, we went up to Bountiful to have cake and ice cream for Hayden, one of my cousin David Wade's boys then we went back down to Orem where we had a nice dinner with Gail and David then we were all off to bed.

General Conference, Day 1

Words can not express how wonderful today was!

We sat about 8 rows away from the pulpit in the morning session and we were in the balconly in the afternoon session. I must admit that sitting that close to the pulpit was purely amazing. The spirit was so strong and Chris and I both feel very blessed that we were there to attend this wonderful conference in person.

We can't wait for tomorrow!

Family fun

Last night, we met Grandma and Uncle Ricky at Lampu. Greyson had initially picked Cici's but changed his mind to Lampu at the last minute.

I left with Chris this afternoon and went to his hearings that he had scheduled in Orlando. Following the hearings, we went to the airport and left for Salt Lake City at 6. We landed there around 8:30 their time and then drove south to Orem. We're excited for General Conference this weekend. It is a much needed spiritual recharge!